Safety first: building a better pint glass

LONDON — The British government wants pubs to try out shatterproof pint glasses as a way to cut back on beer-related violence.

The problem is the high number of binge drinkers who break pint glasses and use the jagged remains as weapons in fights.

Officials say the resulting injuries cost the National Health Service about 2.7 billion pounds ($4.3 billion) each year. Officials say there are an estimated 87,000 incidents each year involving pint glasses and other glasses used as weapons.

Two prototype pint glasses designed not to break up into dangerous shards were introduced today by the Home Office anti-crime design team and the government-funded Design Council.

Further tests will be made before the glasses are introduced on a voluntary basis.